Thousands of children in Ghana remain deprived of education despite efforts by both local and international authorities to end child labour in Ghana, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has warned.According to the authority, despite existing laws, regulations, and international commitments aimed at ending child labour, the practice remains widespread and continues to pose significant challenges.

In a statement issued by the Commission on June 12, in commemoration of the 2026 World Day Against Child Labour, the Commission noted that “The fulfilment of children’s rights is among the most fundamental measures of a society’s commitment to human dignity and social justice,” the Commission said in a statement on June 12, 2026, marking the 2026 World Day Against Child Labour.

It added that child labour remains a major barrier to education and development, saying it “continues to deprive many children of their right to education, protection, development and a safe and dignified childhood.”

The Commission said the problem persists even though Ghana has legal safeguards under the 1992 Constitution, the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), and international conventions, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

According to Section 2,7,87-91 of the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), it indicates that every child has the right to life, dignity, respect, leisure, liberty, health, education, and shelter and places a duty on parents and guardians to ensure that children receive proper education and training, respectively.While Sections 87-91 strictly prohibit child labour, it labels it as exploitative, hazardous, or interferes with a child’s schooling, therefore setting the minimum age of employment at 15 years, while allowing children from age 13 to engage in light work, provided such work does not harm their health or interfere with their education.

CHRAJ described child labour as a matter that remains  “deeply concerning,” noting that globally about 138 million children are engaged in child labour, including nearly 54 million in hazardous work.

Statistics data released by the Ghana Statistical Service mentioned that in 2023, over 1.1 million Ghanaian children within the age bracket of 5-17 years were engaged in some form of work to generate income, and out of these children, over 458,000 were not going to school at all.

“Alarmingly, over 458,000 of these children were not attending school,” the statement said, adding that this reflects “the difficult reality that many children continue to miss out on education and opportunities that could shape a better future and help end the cycle of poverty.”

The Commission called for renewed national commitment to tackling the issue under the theme “Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults,” stressing that child labour is not only a social issue but a violation of rights guaranteed under both national and international law.

It urged stronger action to address conditions that expose children to exploitation, warning that failure to act risks deepening inequality and undermining long-term development.